3X5 Goal Setting Systemhttp://3x5goals.com
Simply AchieveMon, 22 Jan 2018 02:04:28 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4http://3x5goals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/cropped-Icon-1-32x32.jpg3X5 Goal Setting Systemhttp://3x5goals.com
3232126945827When it Comes to Goals, Small is the New Bighttp://3x5goals.com/2018/01/11/comes-goals-small-new-big/
http://3x5goals.com/2018/01/11/comes-goals-small-new-big/#respondThu, 11 Jan 2018 05:53:41 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5715Here’s why you should consider keeping your goals small and simple. It’s time to put Big, Hairy and Audacious back in the small box they came out of. When James Collins and Jerry Porras revealed this idea to the world nearly 10 years ago, they spoke of a BHAG as something an individual or company […]

]]>Here’s why you should consider keeping your goals small and simple.

It’s time to put Big, Hairy and Audacious back in the small box they came out of. When James Collins and Jerry Porras revealed this idea to the world nearly 10 years ago, they spoke of a BHAG as something an individual or company sets as their long-term vision. And they were exactly right. Here’s the case for small.

But since that time, it seems we have blown it out of context. “Bigger is better. Go big or go home!” And even mind-numbing gibberish such as, “Shoot for the moon. Because if not, you’ll at least catch the stars!” We love showing the world we’re on fire and we mean it.

Yet when you peel back the layers and study how high achievers accomplish so much, you discover a beautiful truth that is so simple, it’s hard to swallow: the heights of achievement are bolstered from enormous piles of small wins. Piles that are built so gradually, so subtly that oftentimes even the achiever does not even realize what she’s building or how far she has come

Achievement is a gradual process.

This is why the road to success is laden with disappointment and discouragement. Remember Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Haven’t you ever felt like that man continuously running in the field.

When climbing the spiral stairs to the top of a lighthouse, all you can see is the one step in front of you. You have never been to the top but you hold a mental picture of what it looks like up there. That’s your vision. It inspires you on your journey to reach it. The steps are your goals. That’s where consistent, repetitive action happens. The tortoise had it right.

If you’re working toward a goal more than 90 days out, your brain has a very difficult time even fathoming it. It’s why new year’s resolutions seldom work. The grandiose goal becomes abstract and you find yourself going through the motions to avoid guilt because “at least I’m doing something.” It’s so far out there, you think it makes you look cool for chasing it.

Misalignment is the enemy of progress.

What happens is your belief system does not match your goal. Every goal has at its foundation a belief system of equal or greater value (to quote a famous coupon). If you don’t truly believe in your core that you can and will accomplish what you’re pursuing, you are “top heavy” and your foundation cannot support your lofty goal. And any engineer will tell you if a structure is top heavy, it’s bound to fall over. Even you.

But doesn’t it work for some? Sure. There are some lottery winners who make the rest of us feel like we’re doing something wrong. But the rest of us need small, everyday wins that support our “One Main Goal” (OMG). A goal that is close enough to smell but just far enough away that you can’t quite touch it. That’s your sweet spot.

The solution is to set small goals for now.

Daily progress toward your goal puts you inside what I teach as the “Success Spiral.” Just like Dorothy’s first step on the Yellow Brick Road, it begins with small action—even something inside your comfort zone (yes, I said it). You might call it a slam dunk.

That win produces a tiny stream of belief inside you, increasing your self-confidence. Endorphins are released as you feel good for having checked an item off your list. The confidence spurs momentum, resulting in a greater action. Another win. Bolstered belief. More endorphins. Momentum kicks in; you’re building your foundation.

This cycle repeats and grows as long as you keep feeding the front end of it: action. Conversely, if you’re in a funk, you have likely stopped achieving small wins.

And a side benefit to the Success Spiral is that often, it’s when your passion is discovered.

So yes, by all means, have a big vision. Set out to change the world, Daniel-San. But for crying out loud, stop confusing your vision with your goals. Instead, pursue your vision achieving small goals–smaller than you think. After all, if you’ve never been to the top of a mountain, should you really be shooting for the moon right now?

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2018/01/11/comes-goals-small-new-big/feed/05715Learn the Language of Abbreviationhttp://3x5goals.com/2017/12/29/learn-language-abbreviation/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/12/29/learn-language-abbreviation/#respondFri, 29 Dec 2017 23:30:17 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5691By learning the language of abbreviation, you can become more efficient at setting goals. Rube Goldberg machines make for some great YouTube videos. They’re fun to watch and entertaining. But in real life, the are exactly the opposite of what most of us want in our lives: simplicity. It’s a crowded world and unless you […]

]]>By learning the language of abbreviation, you can become more efficient at setting goals.

Rube Goldberg machines make for some great YouTube videos. They’re fun to watch and entertaining. But in real life, the are exactly the opposite of what most of us want in our lives: simplicity. It’s a crowded world and unless you learn the art of abbreviation, it can get complicated.

Unless, that is, you use the language of abbreviation. Likely you’re already doing it. When you text, you write IDK (I don’t know), LOL (laughing out loud) and IMHO (in my humble opinion). There’s an entire library of phrases. But also, think of how search engines work: keywords and long-tail keyword phrases.

Now let’s apply this to your goal cards…

Think of your goal cards in the same way: they’re reminders of what you already know you need to do. If you have a weekly meeting with yourself, you get a pretty good idea of what you need to do each day. And when you sit down each night to fill out your 3×5 card, you simply need to be reminded of that. There’s no point in rewriting it.

For example, let’s say one of the habits you’re trying to develop is making ten sales calls a day. Rather than writing, “Make 10 sales calls to prospective customers,” you just write “10 calls” on your card. Your memory fills in the rest. Abbreviation is how you make your five-minute meeting each day actually last five minutes or less.

The same principle applies to the rest of the card. Your one main goal or habit, your monthly and weekly focus and even your three checkins on the back can all be abbreviated. For example, when writing what you’re thankful for, it’s not important to write in full sentences. Far more important to acknowledge the thing you’re thankful for and jot it down. The mindfulness is what counts most.

The Thinkubator (my favorite section) is no different. As ideas come to you, jot them down in as few words as possible and type them in longer form later when you journal your cards.

If you feel the need to write in long form, the 3×5 card system is not the place for it. Pull out your journal or open a Word doc. And certainly, there is a time and place for writing and journaling. But when working on your goals, to do lists and other elements of the system, use abbreviations where you can. You’ll save yourself valuable time as you rely more on your brain to fill in the gaps.

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/12/29/learn-language-abbreviation/feed/05691Your Five-Minute DayPlan Meetinghttp://3x5goals.com/2017/12/15/five-minute-dayplan-meeting/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/12/15/five-minute-dayplan-meeting/#respondFri, 15 Dec 2017 01:04:00 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5673Your DayPlan is The Most Important Five Minutes of Your Day Do you have five minutes a day to completely change your life? Everyone you or I know would say yes. Yet most of us would not end up making time for it. In my goal-setting system, I teach a simple five-minute daily commitment to […]

Do you have five minutes a day to completely change your life? Everyone you or I know would say yes. Yet most of us would not end up making time for it. In my goal-setting system, I teach a simple five-minute daily commitment to yourself, I like to call your DayPlan. It’s a brief review of your day and a few minutes to write out tomorrow’s plan.

Here are some tips that will not only make your DayPlan a habit in your life, but will also make that habit work miracles for you.

Five minutes is nothing! Look at this list of things you can do in five minutes or less. Yet when you apply that seemingly insignificant amount of time consistently, it can reap huge dividends to your life. Below is an outline of what my DayPlan meeting looks like. Of course, I like to use 3×5 cards for my DayPlan, but feel free to use whatever system works best for you.

How to create your DayPlan

Review your today. Take a moment to look back at your day and answer a few questions. First, list one “mini-win” you had? Something you did or that happened to you that you consider a win. It’s important to recognize and celebrate what you did right. Stir up a few endorphins by giving yourself a mental pat on the back. Few other people will do it for you. Second, what could you have done better? Always be on the lookout for ways you can improve. Surely there was something you did today that you could have done better. Maybe you made a poor decision. Perhaps you overreacted or acted too hastily. Be aware of your shortcomings and keep an open, humble mind on how you can improve. Third question to ask yourself is: what are you grateful for right now? As you reflect back, what is something that happened, a twist of events, positive mojo, even just an old friend. Gratitude is one of the most admirable characteristics a person can acquire. Make it a daily habit.

Go through your action list. If you aren’t writing down what you will do each day, now is a good time to start. I like to limit my list to the top five most important things I did. Take that out and see what you did not get done. If you managed to check off all five, great job! You can move on. If you left any items undone, stop and ask yourself why. Did you over commit? Were they not important enough? Did you just have a bad day? Figure out what happened and make adjustments as needed. For example, if you didn’t do it because it’s not very important, you can drop it without feeling guilty.

Write out tomorrow’s action items. This is the most important part of your DayPlan meeting. If you have momentum, this should not take long. Important items from today’s card should go to the top of tomorrow’s card. Otherwise, you should have a good idea of what needs to be done based on a combination of what you’re trying to accomplish for the week, what you have broken down in your LifePlan document and new thoughts that you captured during your day.

Rewrite your main habit, monthly focus and weekly focus. These will not change often and hopefully you’re on track so you can cross them off at the end of the week/month. It’s important to write them down with each new card because it reinforces them in your mind.

File today’s card and place tomorrow’s card by your bed or on your dresser. Leave it somewhere you’re likely to see it when you first wake up. There’s a certain confidence that comes with having your plan written out and ready to go as you start your day. Refer to the card frequently throughout your day and use it as a barometer to vet out any new ideas or important decisions. Do they align with your plan?

Simple, right?

That’s what a DayPlan meeting looks like. Get in the habit of doing this at the same time each day. Set a timer or alarm on your phone to remind you and be diligent about it. The best part is that it only takes five minutes. You can fake a bathroom break in that amount of time. In conclusion, be fanatical about your daily meeting and see how they quickly become the most important five minutes of each day.

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/12/15/five-minute-dayplan-meeting/feed/05673You’re Flexible as an…Airplane?http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/28/youre-flexible-airplane/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/28/youre-flexible-airplane/#respondTue, 28 Nov 2017 05:58:41 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5653Just how flexible are you? You’re sitting as a passenger in an airplane during flight. You’re in a window seat, near the wing of the airplane. Predictably tucked in the pocket in front of you is the in-flight magazine, crash safety protocol and a puke bag. Nothing new to see here. Bored, you glance out […]

You’re sitting as a passenger in an airplane during flight. You’re in a window seat, near the wing of the airplane. Predictably tucked in the pocket in front of you is the in-flight magazine, crash safety protocol and a puke bag. Nothing new to see here.

Bored, you glance out the window and notice the wing. Clouds flitter by at an alarming speed. Comforting because it means we’re still moving along at full speed. But as you look closer you begin to notice something. You notice the wing moving around, a little more than it should in your opinion. You follow it up to where it connects to the airplane. It seems to be jiggling around, as if the screws are loose. You start getting nervous, “Whose job was it to bolt that sucker to the side of the plane?” The more you look at it, the more you are certain the wing is going to fly off any minute now. Your eye finds the tip and you gasp as it waves up and down, several INCHES.

You want to nudge the stranger next to you, “Shouldn’t someone let the captain know?!”

Actually, engineers test the airplane wings to see how far they stretch them before they break and they actually do they push them up and they all the way to the point where they actually snap. The distance? Twenty five feet or more, according to Popular Mechanics. Smart people with MBAs and PhDs push the wing all the way up to 150 percent of the amount of turbulence the airplane wing can take during the worst storm Mother Nature can dish out. In other words, they’re planning for the very worst…and then some.

Those wings may look like they’re about to fall off but they will take all kinds of crazy. And keep sailing right through it all.

It’s not a new concept. When there’s an earthquake, buildings, bridges and homes are built to roll with the punches. They take a certain amount of stress, and keep standing tall.

More importantly, YOU are designed this way. Even though you couldn’t even touch your toes in gym class, your spirit is extremely flexible, built to endure.

You might look or feel like the very bolts holding you together are bouncing around like Mexican Jumping Beans. Maybe you look around and see everyone rocking it while you’re bobbling along barely holding on to some semblance of a decent “outer shell.”

God built you to withstand much greater adversity than you know. I’ve seen it again and again. The human spirit defying all logic. Miracles. People just like you who didn’t know they had it in them until they have been stressed and tested by a huge storm. And while the ride might be bumpy and your tummy starts feeling like a freaking butterfly exhibit, God built you to last. Being flexible is in your spiritual DNA.

So if you’re going through some turbulence, and I’m not able to be there in person to help pull you out of it, take some comfort from my post. Know that everyone goes through it. I’ve never met a person who made it to the top without a struggle. And typically, the greater the vision, the greater the struggle required to achieve it.

But knowing everyone goes through it doesn’t make it any easier, right?

So use this instead: rather than being furious, be curious. In other words, don’t react to your challenges with emotion (anger, rage, sadness, etc.). Instead, fill your soul with a childlike curiosity that will lead you to answers. Doing so takes the focus off of your bummer situation and on to learning from it. Because nobody can control the challenges that come our way, but we can control how we respond to them.

Listen to me, I’m starting to sound like my dad. Maybe that’s a good thing…he was pretty flexible.

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/28/youre-flexible-airplane/feed/05653Your Goals Need a LifePlan Statementhttp://3x5goals.com/2017/11/25/goals-need-lifeplan-statement/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/25/goals-need-lifeplan-statement/#respondSat, 25 Nov 2017 21:21:18 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5630If you’re trying to set goals without doing this first, you’re wasting your time. Let’s go on a little journey back in time. You’re hanging out with your friends in high school. It’s a lazy day and someone asks, “So, what should we do?” Someone else responds, “I don’t know, what do you want to […]

Let’s go on a little journey back in time. You’re hanging out with your friends in high school. It’s a lazy day and someone asks, “So, what should we do?” Someone else responds, “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” A few shrugs and awkward facial expressions later, still nobody knows what to do. No direction, no goals. So nobody does anything.

Fortunately, back then, the consequences were minor. But if you’re holding onto that mindset today, the consequences can be devastating. In fact, it’s a major reason entrepreneurs flounder. They don’t have clarity on who they are or where they’re going.

And then they learn about goal setting. After all, successful people set goals, right? So they set some goals for themselves. No foundation, no plan, no thinking about who they are and where they are going. Just execution mode.

That’s like heading to Home Depot for a stack of two-by-fours the moment after deciding to build a home.

We’ve all heard- if you want to achieve something new, you must first become someone who achieves that. Becoming is the first step and the backbone of success.

Your LifePlan is a foundational document that contains all your core answers and what’s most important to you. It is a living, breathing file you build, adjust and refine as you yourself go through your seasons of life. It contains the following elements:

Your strengths/weaknesses, your assets, your gifts/talents, your purpose, your mission, your vision, your values, your one main goal (OMG). It’s also the place where you break your OMG down into actionable steps. This is the hub you turn to when you do your personal planning meetings.

Your LifePlan document is also your own personal barometer when you’re faced with new opportunities in life you’re tempted to pursue. This document is your anchor; a reminder of what’s important to you at your core.

If you don’t have something like this yet, set aside a couple of hours during a period of time when your mind is at its best. For most of us, that means in the morning. Open up a new document—I like to use an Excel spreadsheet—and save it in a place that will be accessible and convenient for you to get in and out of on a regular basis. Remove all distractions and get comfortable. Make it so you can give it 100% of uninterrupted attention.

Then you start writing. Ask yourself deep questions and write. Don’t worry about right or wrong, just get it out of your head and staring back at you from a screen or piece of paper. There’s something powerful and clarifying when you look at something from a 3rd person perspective.

One note on the writing style: be yourself but don’t be too wordy. Simple and powerful is best. Choose every word carefully. Also, write in the first person, present tense. “I am” instead of “I will be.”

Once you have this written out, summarize it into a “LifePlan Statement” by reducing each of the following into one- or two-sentence power statements:

Who are you?

What is your purpose (why do you exist?)

Describe your vision (who are you aspiring to become)

List your values (what principles are most important to you)

Write out your OMG (your biggest goal right now)

What would it look like to achieve your OMG?

What sacrifice you are willing to make to achieve it?

A summary or wrap up statement about why this matters to you

When complete, this should take no longer than two minutes to read. Take this Statement and incorporate it into your morning routine. Use it during meditation and visualization in the early morning hours before your roommates or family members wake up. Read it out loud to yourself slowly and with as much meaning and emotion as your heart can muster. Develop your imagination muscles as you try to feel, smell, see and hear as much as you can as you say it.

If you’d like to see an example. Just post a request on our Facebook Group and I’ll be happy to share my LifePlan Statement with you.

Your brain may not be used to this type of focus so be patient with yourself. Likely, your mind will wander around and get distracted. Don’t get frustrated- understand that it’s normal and simply nudge yourself back on track and pick up where you left off. Like most things, focus is a learned skill that can be practiced and developed with a little persistence and desire.

I challenge you to try this for 30 days and see if it doesn’t change your life.

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/25/goals-need-lifeplan-statement/feed/05630Doubt and Fear Prevent Achievementhttp://3x5goals.com/2017/11/24/doubt-fear-prevent-achievement/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/24/doubt-fear-prevent-achievement/#respondFri, 24 Nov 2017 19:23:20 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5618Doubt and fear are the two evil stepsisters to your goals. Out of all the reasons people do not achieve their goals, the two biggest culprits are doubt and fear. But the funny thing is, both are created by ourselves and exist only in our minds. They contain no substance other than what we give them. […]

Out of all the reasons people do not achieve their goals, the two biggest culprits are doubt and fear. But the funny thing is, both are created by ourselves and exist only in our minds. They contain no substance other than what we give them.

Over 80% of New Year’s Resolutions are broken before month #2. That’s according to Inc. Magazine. Over 80 percent! So what is it? Why? Maybe the goal wasn’t inspiring enough. Maybe it was too far out there. Possibly, we’re just being lazy. It could be any number of reasons, but the statistic is ugly and real.

Nevertheless, they’re very real and they’re not quite so easy to just sluff off and ignore. So what to do about them? Consider a couple of thoughts:

First, acknowledge the fact that they are normal. Expect them. You might even say to one of them, “It’s about time you showed up! I’ve been expecting you!” Too often we think we’re the only ones going through struggles. We see post after post of success stories on everyone else’s social media feeds and wonder, “What’s wrong with ME?”

Actually, nothing. Abnormal would be NOT feeling these emotions. So, start by being OK with it. It’s a part of the journey. The only way to avoid them is to stay safely inside your comfort zone and go nowhere. You don’t want that.

Second, now that you’ve accepted them, make doubt and fear your friends. Heck, throw in nervousness, uncertainty and failure as well. They’re FRIENDS, not enemies. Why would I say this?

If you’re going to accomplish any kind of significant achievement, you’ll have to learn to work with emotions like doubt and fear. It’s an inseparable part of the journey because these so-called “enemies” are what make you stronger, better and wiser. And in order for you to ACHIEVE a higher level, you must first BECOME that person. Which means conquering the doubt and fear. The achievement is simply the outcome of the overcome.

Third, get in a daily habit of connecting with your purpose. Your why. Implement it into your morning routine. Visualize it and feel it throughout your body. Attach it to the emotion you will feel when you achieve it. When you have your sites fixed on your finish line, obstacles such as fear and doubt will tend to dissolve. But be careful- once you’ve got your eyes on the prize, the next step is to get them off and focus on the daily activities that will get you there.

So embrace the imperfection. Set your goals with confidence and then be glad when doubt and fear show up because they are a sure sign you’re outside your comfort zone and on track. And once on track, you just have stay in motion.

Are you in the 80%? How do you overcome doubt and fear? What other obstacles that get in the way of accomplishing your goals?

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/24/doubt-fear-prevent-achievement/feed/05618Teach the World to Respect Your Timehttp://3x5goals.com/2017/11/24/teach-world-respect-time/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/24/teach-world-respect-time/#respondFri, 24 Nov 2017 17:40:10 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5607If you don’t teach the world to respect your time, they won’t learn. Time thieves are everywhere. Interestingly, if someone steals money from you, it’s a big deal. You don’t just say, “Oh well, whatever.” You try to find out who it was and get it back. You may even legally prosecute. Yet every day, […]

]]>If you don’t teach the world to respect your time, they won’t learn.

Time thieves are everywhere. Interestingly, if someone steals money from you, it’s a big deal. You don’t just say, “Oh well, whatever.” You try to find out who it was and get it back. You may even legally prosecute. Yet every day, other people are stealing your time—something infinitely more valuable than money.

This principle seems obvious, but to most people it’s not because your time is one of your most overlooked and undervalued assets. Having five kids, one thing I’ve learned is that you have to have time boundaries or you become an all-you-can-eat time buffet. Can anyone relate? It’s not uncommon for untimely request to be answered by, “Sorry, dad’s closed. You’ll have to come back in the morning.”

Now, that’s not to say you can’t or shouldn’t be there for your kids. They’re one of your top priorities, so use wisdom and prudence. But they do need to know that mom and dad have lives, too, and most requests (which seem to always come up after bedtime) are anything but urgent.

So, how does this apply to you?

Let me ask you: when a client calls, texts or emails, do you drop everything immediately and respond right then? Or are you comfortable replying in an hour or two so you can finish what you’re doing first? In other words, who runs your day? When you set a precedence that you’re 100% available 24/7, a couple of things will happen.

First, at some point you will burn out. The model is not sustainable, especially as your business grows.

Second, you come across as desperate. When you’re always available, people can’t help but think you have nothing else do to than answer their phone call or return their email.

Third (and this one is the most important), your clients will come to expect it. And once that happens, it’s very tough to go back without jeopardizing the relationship.

How a real estate agent has mastered this

Years ago I worked with a real estate agent who understood the value of his time. He rarely answered his phone, but in his message, he explained briefly how he returns calls during certain hours of the day. He always called back promptly, but within the parameters he set for himself. And those parameters allowed him to be fully present to his clients. To structure his day and follow a schedule that works for him.

In other words, he taught everyone that he’s not always going to pick up the phone…because he’s fully vested in other activities at that time, maybe showing a home to other clients. And when it comes time for him to help YOU, he’ll give you the same respect, which I’m sure you would appreciate.

The beauty is that ultimately, it’s HIM deciding what works best for HIS business and then lets everyone know. They respect and follow his boundaries.

Your time is the most precious asset you own. It’s up to you to teach the world to respect it. And if you don’t, you’ll find people stealing your time all day long. If you have a system set up for yourself (and you follow it), you will greatly diminish your pockets of wasted time. And the world will respect you for it.

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/24/teach-world-respect-time/feed/05607Is Your Default Your Downfall?http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/23/is-your-default-your-downfall/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/23/is-your-default-your-downfall/#respondThu, 23 Nov 2017 01:52:33 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5579What does fishing have to do with your goals? I used to love fishing. I don’t get out as much anymore, but I remember one trip at a large lake in central Utah. We had rented a little motor boat from the Marina. The water in this lake was so deep, we had to anchor near […]

I used to love fishing. I don’t get out as much anymore, but I remember one trip at a large lake in central Utah. We had rented a little motor boat from the Marina. The water in this lake was so deep, we had to anchor near the shore and drift out.

It was a great spot. I knew because I worked at the marina and heard all the conversations. It was my day off. But what was interesting about this trip was not the fish. In fact, I can’t remember if I even caught one. What I did catch was a lesson in life I’ll never forget.

Nothing was out of the ordinary. Beautiful day. Light breeze, sunshine. Our lines were in the water and we waited with anticipation. But something was odd. On one side of the boat, the lines started coming in. On the other, the lines went out. Little did we know, the breeze was pushing our boat, ever so slowly. The anchor had not caught and we were drifting.

But it wasn’t until I carefully watched a tree on the shore that I even noticed our position changing. Ever. So. Slowly.

Do you ever feel like you’re drifting? You may not even realize you’re doing it. BUT I can tell you, if you don’t have yourself grounded on something that doesn’t move, you’ll drift. And you’ll only realize it several hundred yards down the shoreline.

A question I like to ask my clients is: what is your default? What I mean by this is, in which direction do you naturally drift? Newton taught us that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by another force. What is your “natural” motion and what force will pivot you in the right direction?

For most of us, our default is not good. And left to it’s own devices, it will guide you quietly down the wrong path in life. Maybe you’re prone to laziness, anger or overwhelm. Maybe your default is fear. Whatever the case, pay attention to it so you can correct it.

What grounds you are your values, your vision and your goals. With those key elements locked place, you’ll always know if you’re on track or if you’ve drifted. If you haven’t done so already, take some time to write out what’s most important to you. I like to call it a LifePlan Document. This is a living, breathing document that will evolve and change over time as you grow.

Use it as a barometer when opportunity comes your way. It helps you vet out new ideas when you’re tempted to stray. Ideas that can take you off track if they don’t align with what’s most important to you. And if you don’t have this guide and/or don’t use it, you’ll find yourself victim to the whims of the world.

Everyone has something special to sell you. Everyone wants your attention. And they’re screaming for you to look at them. Don’t let the world drift you away from what’s most important to you.

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/23/is-your-default-your-downfall/feed/05579Are You Addicted to Your Comfort Zone?http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/22/addicted-comfort-zone/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/22/addicted-comfort-zone/#respondWed, 22 Nov 2017 15:08:29 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5551Comfort zones are prevalent in our lives. But how do we handle them?

People love building walls. We put up borders, fences and comfort zone walls all around us. They define neighborhoods, communities, homes and buildings; we even put up intangible walls we call personal space.

Hunters. Gatherers. Wall Builders- I think it’s third on the list.

So why should we be surprised when we build up our comfort zone walls? More importantly, why do we even have comfort zones in the first place?
Simple. Your comfort zone is a dangerously safe space. And it’s as addicting as crack.

If your life is a computer, your brain is the operating system.

Whether you like it or not, your brain is wired to seek out the path of least resistance. To avoid uncomfortable things like pain, risk and uncertainty. In fact, if you’re on the road toward your goals, it’s highly likely you are at odds with your own brain.

Comfort zones keep you from getting scraped and bruised as you press through toward achievement. They insulate you from risk, rejection, discomfort and pain.

You wake up each day on fire, ready to conquer the world. Rejection rears its ugly head and BAM, you’re back in your shell like a hermit crab, waiting for all the bad guys to go away. Safely bubble wrapped in your walls where it’s comfortable and warm.

“I’ll try again tomorrow.”

And what happens as you pass time in your comfort zone? Your business, your plans, your life…goes nowhere. Today looks just like yesterday. And tomorrow’s looking no different.

The carbon copy life.

Comfort zones create stagnancy because nothing great happens in there. No growth, no stretch marks, no lessons learned. Just a smooth facade of sunshine, flowers and rainbows.

The truth is, discomfort, risk, rejection…they’re all signs you ARE on the right track. But who wants those for companions? The answer…whoever wants to succeed.

So, how do you overcome this nasty addiction?

Simply, you rewire the motherboard:
Develop a crystal clear vision of what life looks like when you achieve your goal. The clearer the better. Connect with it emotionally because emotions live in the same part of your brain as habits and identity.

Next, make that vision part of your daily routine. I like to read my vision statement, along with some other empowering affirmations, aloud to myself every morning.

Use that mental picture as your sounding board to make decisions and operate from that space. For example, “will this move me closer to my vision?” or, “is this a decision a person who has achieved my goal would make?”

Expect the bumps, they are a good thing. They’re good because they are road signs that you’re going in the right direction. If you’re heading to California and the road sign says you have 350 miles to go, you can either say, “350?!! That’s so far!” or you can say, “Excellent, I’m en route to California!”

Take imperfect action every day. Do something, big or small. Be fanatical about taking at least one small step toward your goal before your head hits the pillow. With some momentum, you will build confidence in yourself and reignite your passion.

]]>http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/22/addicted-comfort-zone/feed/05551Eyes OFF the Prize…and ON Your Habitshttp://3x5goals.com/2017/11/22/eyes-off-prize-habits/
http://3x5goals.com/2017/11/22/eyes-off-prize-habits/#respondWed, 22 Nov 2017 15:06:27 +0000http://3x5goals.com/?p=5547Your habits will take you farther than your goals. Goals are awesome. They smell delicious, they’re covered in glitter and they sparkle when the light hits them just so. Queue the theme music. They’re easy to set, easy to write down and best of all, they make it look like you’re really doing something significant […]

Goals are awesome. They smell delicious, they’re covered in glitter and they sparkle when the light hits them just so. Queue the theme music. They’re easy to set, easy to write down and best of all, they make it look like you’re really doing something significant with your life. Or maybe I should say, worst of all. So, you focus on them rather than your habits.

The big problem with goals is they are not real. Sure, the idea is to one day make them real, but right now, they’re out there. Something to aspire to.
I’ve heard people say setting goals is scary. I think what they mean is achieving goals is scary.

Without the process (AKA, habits), the goal means nothing.

According to a recent Business Insider article, 80% of new years resolutions have failed by February. One month and they’re gone! Is it because the goal wasn’t big enough? Not likely.

Like it or not, every new goal you set comes come tightly packed with a few bonuses: uncertainty, doubt, failure and fear. Like a “buy one, get five free” offer. And as soon as you crack open the box, they all come flying out in a flurry. But we don’t want them. We only want the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And yet, over and over we’re taught to focus solely on the goal. The goal is what matters most. Eyes on the prize.

What about the journey?

Have you ever tried hiking up a mountain while looking at the top the whole time?

Not long ago, my wife and I sat down with our children to help them set goals for the school year. We had challenged them to think of 1-3 goals they’d like to accomplish this school year. Interestingly, the answers ran the gamut. One kid wanted to set 5 or 6 goals and had to be restrained. She was disappointed when we talked to her about not spreading herself too thin.

Then one of our teenagers spoke up. He declared he didn’t have any goals at all; and he wasn’t setting one either. We probed and his answer made my heart sink a little!

“Why should I set a goal? I’m just going to fail.”

Like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Although it was something no parent wants to hear from their child, I have to admit I admired his courage and honesty. But then I wondered, “Has my subconscious mind thought the same thing?” It’s natural to enjoy life safely within the walls of your comfort zone. Hey, water’s warm.

You might even justify: life isn’t SO bad. Nobody’s bleeding. I mean, is it the end of the world if I didn’t achieve this goal? Why should I put myself out there and risk getting rejected when I can just stay right here and…oh look., another free course! I’ll just hit refresh one more time, there may be an important email I need to respond to that I didn’t know about five seconds ago.

Truth is, setting goals is easy.

It’s the PROCESS that causes so many of us to stumble, not our goals. Our daily habits. That’s what we need to focus our attention to. Because in the end, your process, your habits, your daily actions, are all that matter.

If you’ve been goal-focused, here are three quick steps you can do about it immediately:

Write out and review your one main goal. Get it out of your system.

Create a clear mental picture of what life looks like to achieve it and emotionally connect with that image.

Now throw out your goal, come back to reality and get to work on what matters: your habits.

Break your goal down into small, bite-sized pieces. Focus on the process- what do you have to do every day? What actions, habits and routines do you need to be doing? Daily actions—even small—compounded over time turn into big results. Just ask Darren Hardy.

Expect the bumps. Fear, doubt, uncertainty, failure; they’re part of the journey. They show up the minute you start going places. A telltale sign you’re on the right track. And when they show up, you say to them, “Oh, THERE you are. I was wondering why it took you so long…”